Sunday, January 30, 2011

So what have we seen lately in the snow? Not much...though word comes today that our friend Tina Green may have found the first Common Murre for the state of Connecticut at Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison. Congratulations to her! Here are some photos of some of what else has been going on...

This male Eastern Towhee decided my yard was a fantastic spot and has moved in for the time being. I wonder where he was until now!

A more surprising yard visitor has been this Field Sparrow, a rare bird in Connecticut in winter. I have never had one visiting my bird feeders before, though I have heard of it happening in adverse conditions.

A pair of Peregrine Falcons has been hunting at Long Beach in Stratford on a regular basis. They can often be found sitting in the small trees or the power lines near the entrance to the beach.

My Dark-eyed Junco with unknown eye-rings is still here. It certainly does look like some type of fungus or infection, but the bird seems fine. Perhaps it is something else...

Finally, these three male Redheads were with a female at Stratford Point on Friday.

The species has been seen in the area often recently, from one to four birds at a time. Stop by to see them soon before they're gone.

Friday, January 28, 2011

The historic snow continues! Yesterday, Bridgeport's airport in Stratford set records for both all-time snow depth and snowiest January ever. Yes, you can read that again, and it is true. However, on second thought, you may not need to be convinced of it. The snow is everywhere. The bad news is more will be coming soon. Below is an old video I shot on December 18-19 of 2008 of the birds coming to my feeders during the first snowstorm of that season. What better time to share it?

All of the birds are common backyard species except for the Rusty Blackbird male and female who decided to stop by for a snack during the harsh weather. Do not forget the Rusty Blackbird Blitz starts tomorrow!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

As we are being blanketed by yet another storm, I wanted to share a few pictures with you from yesterday's snow (which was forecast as essentially a dusting...alas).

The lighthouse on Stratford Point - this picture was taken around noon, but the snow and clouds blocked much of the light.

It is not a surprise that this year we have had no meadowlarks wintering in the site's coastal grassland habitat...

Ring-billed Gulls patiently sitting out the weather

The shoreline was active as ever with hundreds of waterfowl and gulls present in the intertidal zone. You just could barely see them!

This Greater Black-backed Gull is starting to accumulate some snow on its back.

Once the snow cleared, business returned to usual

Snow-topped rocks in the splash zone look out of place!

This is one of the three male Redhead that showed up at Stratford Point yesterday. These are likely the same birds that have been showing up in other areas lately. It appears that we are having a good winter for these pretty ducks!

Monday, January 24, 2011

This year’s Rusty Blackbird Blitz is only five days away! The 2011 Blitz is scheduled for January 29 to February 13. For those 17 days scientists, birders, and other volunteers will look for Rusty Blackbirds in their potential habitats, focusing primarily on all of the states to our south. However, Connecticut holds a decent number of Rusty Blackbirds in winter, even in harsh ones like this year. Recent observations have shown they are still present, sometimes in sizable groups, in areas ranging from Westport to Woodbridge and Hamden to Sterling and Litchfield. I am sure there are more out there, whether they be in wooded wetlands near neighborhoods like mine, in other preserves and sanctuaries, or among larger blackbird groups. We know of several locations they typically winter in, but we need to find more locations and more birds during that time period!

Male Rusty Blackbird

If everyone reading this who lives in Connecticut or any state with Rusty Blackbirds could be please so kind as to keep an eye out for them and log the results in eBird (http://ebird.org) that would be fantastic. You will be doing a great service to conservation and a species that is plummeting in number before our eyes. We would love to have as many details as possible - exact locations, the sex of the birds, what they were doing, what they foraged for, the habitat they were found in, and so forth. More information on all of this can be found on the Rusty Blackbird overview page on the Smithsonian's Migratory Bird Center website, I site I mentioned yesterday as it is home to the International Rusty Blackbird Technical Working Group: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/scbi/migratorybirds/research/rusty_blackbird/

If you have any questions about Rusty Blackbirds, the blitz, eBird, or would rather directly send me your Rusty Blackbird sightings during that time (or any time you see a Rusty Blackbird), please feel free to do so. Thank you so much in advance - I know we can find some "new" Rusty Blackbirds and all of you will provide us with some great information! While we are particularly interested in finding large groups of them, even just one Rusty Blackbird visiting your yard for a day in that period is very important (and so is their absence where they would be typically found). So, once again, please do not hesitate to email me about any of this.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

This is the first of two posts regarding the Rusty Blackbird, so please watch for the next one tomorrow. The once common species, that sometimes filled the sky during migration over a century ago, has shown both alarming long-term and shocking short-term population losses. It is actually one of the entire continent's fastest declining species. This fact is still not widely known among birders or scientists and until the past decade very little was done to even acknowledge the plight of the Rusty Blackbird, let alone discover the reasons behind it or address these problems. This changed when the International Rusty Blackbird Technical Working Group was formed in February 2005, a group that I am a member of - you can find more information on it here at the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center's website: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/scbi/migratorybirds/research/rusty_blackbird/

Due at least in part to the group's work, blackbird control practices (the killing of large flocks of blackbird species in certain areas in order to protect agriculture, prevent disease being spread among livestock, etc.) have been reexamined. Effective January 1 the Rusty Blackbird was removed from the federal depredation order on blackbird species. This means they can no longer be killed for control practices without a permit (and no one is going to get one to do so). Further measures were also taken, and they are causing a bit of negative stir from expected sources.

The objections seem to come from the new reporting requirements for birds killed under the order and the new requirement that all shot be non-toxic (not lead). Lead can harm the Rusty Blackbird, as well as the environment and other species in numerous ways, so the legal killing of blackbirds cannot be done via lead shot. More reporting requirements were put in place so that we have a better idea of what/how/when concerning blackbird control efforts as well as ensuring the Rusty Blackbird remains protected. Blackbirds can no longer legally be taken without the appropriate documentation.

So what is next? The third Rusty Blackbird Blitz, January 29-February 13, where scientists and volunteers go into the field to record in detail every Rusty Blackbird they can find, with the results being put into eBird. I will post more information on that tomorrow. I hope you can join us then and help save the Rusty Blackbird!

Friday, January 21, 2011

That is all people talk about so far in 2011 - snow. It is all we have time to discuss as we wrap up one system, such as today's small to moderate event depending on your location in Connecticut, and move on to the next, a potential major storm around next Tuesday or Wednesday. There are countless variables to be worked out before then, but the birds and most of the people hope that one swings inland and lets us see some more rain. Until then, while we try to get through bitter and possibly record-breaking cold, here are some photos I have taken during the past month concerning that subject while at home or out surveying. Stay warm! And keep feeding your yard birds since they really need it right now.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

January has been a quiet month in terms of birds for much of Connecticut as the state remains locked in a colder and snowier than usual pattern. This is not the year to find Gray Catbirds in warm wet spots or Eastern Meadowlarks hanging around in places like Stratford Point. However, we have had plenty of ducks, some of which Twan mentioned and photographed here in a recent post. The male Eurasian Wigeon is still here with us. I saw it around 11AM today as it slept among a group of 57 American Wigeon relatively close to shore. Find it resting in the photo below - it is the ninth bird from the right, and near the center of the photo, if you cannot pick it out.

Moments before I found a female Redhead swimming and diving in the same area. I got some wonderful looks before she flushed and flew back towards the lighthouse. Speaking of that area, it seems as if the thousands of sea ducks have left us. Whether it is the date as we near the end of January, exhaustion of the food supply there, frequent passes by hunters, or something else, there were only handfuls of scoter and scaup around today. Long-tailed Ducks have been more scarce recently though plenty of Common Goldeneye and Red-breasted Merganser continue. The most impressive numbers remain the American Wigeon along with Gadwall and American Black Duck, together numbering 300 to 400 birds at times between Stratford Point and Short Beach.

Upland areas have been predictably slower than usual, but there are some nice highlights on most days. Northern Harriers and the occasional Rough-legged Hawk can be spotted hunting the grasslands. Passerines of the open country have been enjoying grasses exposed by the strong winds of the point as well as the plowed driveway and edges. Below is a Savannah Sparrow taking advantage of that.

One very nice somewhat scarce winter species we have seen a lot of is this Field Sparrow. It has been associating with the Savannah and Song Sparrows. Look how well it blends in to the grass.

Plenty of Snow Buntings (below) have also enjoyed the exposed grasses. They have been a constant presence, sometimes with Horned Larks and American Pipits, because of the sizable snow depth.

Amazingly, spring is already on the way. Twan heard a male cardinal singing away yesterday morning during the brief warm-up after the mixed bag system. That guy is going to quiet down for a couple of weeks, but it is only a month until that is commonplace.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

You may have seen this post here on our Facebook page but this is another great reason to become a Connecticut Audubon Society member.

James Prosek, noted author and painter who resides in Connecticut signed copies of his most recent book, "Eels" for Connecticut Audubon Society's Membership Drive. "Eels" recently received a great review in the New York Times by Paul Greenberg. You can receive a copy of "Eels" through your membership in the Society. ... Your membership will help us actively manage 2600 acres of wildlife habitat holding 19 sanctuaries statewide. In addition we care for over 50 injured wildlife who then serve as education ambassadors to help teach science in local schools. Our staff at five centers and two museums across the state work daily within their respective communities to spark an appreciation for the environment and conservation. To learn how to become a member or renew your membership and recieve a copy of James Prosek's book, visit us at www.ctaudubon.org or call 203-259-6305, Ext. 102.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

The latest storm to impact the northeast is bringing a mixed bag of precipitation to Connecticut. While we started as snow, all of the state transitioned to sleet, freezing rain, and then plain rain after anywhere from one to several inches of snow and a few tenths of an inch of ice in some spots. Upper layers warmed quickly while surface temperatures, especially in the Connecticut River valley, held to below freezing for quite some time longer. That is how you get freezing rain. And again Friday looks like it could be another big all-snow event...

Today reminded me of this video I shot back in 2009 of birds coming to my yard and feeders during a storm that gave us even more freezing rain. Be safe out there!

Monday, January 17, 2011

I wanted to share this impressive image of snow cover in New England after the storm of 1/12-1/13 (which still needs a good name). This satellite photo comes courtesy of NASA/GSFC, MODIS Rapid Response System. The photo is very large so be aware it may take some time to load on some networks or computers and will likely be beyond your screen size.

Besides some amazing cloud features, especially where they interact with the mountains to our north, you can see Connecticut and the region are buried in the white stuff. Nantucket is just about the only place you can find the brown earth. Yes, it is magnificent...but why I am showing you this? To make the obvious point of how hard it must be to be a bird that depends on the ground right now. Sparrows cannot scratch at the leaf litter, raptors cannot easily strike at small mammals scurrying around, woodcock cannot pull up earthworms, etc. There are numerous species that are in mortal danger in situations like this, where entire regions have at least 16 or 18 inches of snow cover. Many birds have likely succumb to the conditions or lack of food. Feeding the birds in your yard is a good first step, but using eBird allows us to track species populations over time and will help us learn what kind of an impact these events have.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Your first clue came in where I said it was photographed, the coastal grasslands of Stratford Point. Habitat is often a large clue in determining the species of many birds, and though sometimes you can see an individual outside of their typical haunts, this isn't the case here. Another clue is the size of the bird sitting on an American Kestrel box. Does it look like it could be squeezing through that hole? I do not think so. It is obviously quite a bit larger than a kestrel. So now, we have a large raptor that prefers grasslands or at least open areas.

That large size dismisses all falcons. It is the winter in Connecticut, so something like a Broad-winged Hawk can be disregarded for now, too. The accipiter family also looks too small and narrow, and they do not display quite the degree of white on the head and especially the face. How about a Northern Harrier? It is in the right habitat at the right time of year, but their wings and bodies are much more slender. This is a bulky bird.

It is the daytime, so our owl options are limited. Clearly, this is not a Snowy Owl based on color alone. The face and head are too small and lack the facial discs and distinctive eyes of a Short-eared Owl, apart from the fact the wings would be even longer. We seem to be getting down to it, as this raptor must be a member of the buteo family. Red-shouldered Hawks prefer woods and wetlands, and the upperparts would have much more white in them. It would be a bit small for this bird, though it's getting closer. The two best candidates appear to be Red-tailed Hawk and Rough-legged Hawk. The common former species utilizes a variety of habitats year-round in Connecticut. An adult Red-tailed Hawk would show the red tail, even if it were tough to see, in this photo. It is possible it could be a juvenile, though the extensive white on the face and the fact it is sitting in the middle of the coastal grasslands right on the mouth of the Housatonic would have to lead one to believe they are watching a Rough-legged Hawk in prime hunting grounds.

In fact, this light morph Rough-legged Hawk was at Stratford Point on December 28 and 29. The still distant but full-sized photo is below.

The Rough-legged Hawk hovers while hunting, making it strikingly reminiscent of the White-tailed Kite. If you were watching it, there would be no doubt as to the identification of the species from this behavior and the distinctive undersides. We often get this rare raptor at Stratford Point in the winter. While this bird moved on, come visit us to see if we pick up another soon.

Friday, January 14, 2011

The snowstorm of 1/11-1/12 was truly historic across all of Connecticut and much of New England...the birds? Not so much. First of all, here are snowfall totals for various towns and cities in Connecticut courtesy of the National Weather Service:

To be fair, some of those totals are suspect. Often enough one sees inflated totals when there have been repeated storms as people measure the total depth of snow (usually unintentionally) rather than what fell during the storm. Or they may have measured in a drift. Nevertheless, a few inches here or there still means much of the state saw over 20 inches, which is amazing. The North American short-range model (called the NAM) handled the system the best once it was within its 84 hour window. If your meteorologist was right about the high totals they likely trusted it and disregarded some other models.

Birders expected numerous unusual visitors to their feeders among masses of the typical species during and after the storm. When the earth is that buried ground-feeding species will obviously be unable to access it anywhere. So what happened? Very little, actually. I have read only a few reports of Rusty Blackbirds and Eastern Bluebird coming to yards. I heard about a couple Fox Sparrows and a few Pine Siskins. There were very few Common Redpolls and not a single Purple Finch reported. Only a couple Red-breasted Nuthatches showed up, and those were visiting their respective feeders all winter. There were no mega-rarities, and not even notable birds despite that snow! I do keep hearing stories of Red-tailed Hawks feeding in yards and Red-shouldered Hawks eating handouts of meat. Their primary prey - mammals - are tough to find in or get to through all that snow. Even more Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks came to feeders for the birds, too.

I think many half-hardy or rare feeder birds had already moved on south to better feeding territory after the Boxing Day Blizzard or subsequent inverted trough snowfall. It is very likely many had already succumb to the cold and snow, sadly. This storm may have taken the lives of more. Winter is a hard season - this is the natural (though sad) way of things. This year in particular has made things hard for the little ones. I was eagerly awaiting the Fox Sparrow and Rusty Blackbirds that had visited me only a couple weeks before during and after the Boxing Day Blizzard. They never came! In fact, while I had 28 species and more of a few than usual, none were that notable. Here's my list:

Monday, January 10, 2011

The photo below was taken at the coastal grasslands of Stratford Point. It shows a raptor sitting on top of an American Kestrel box.

The picture is small, isn't it? It is 25% of actual size. It is as if you had nothing but your eyes or possibly a pair of binoculars while watching it. So my question to you is...what is this raptor?! I will post the answer later this week.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

You may have read this post I made on the Westport-Fairfield Christmas Bird Count, as I was a part of Charlie Barnard's count team for his Fairfield shoreline area. The rest of the team included Dave Zawisha, Alex Burdo, and James Purcell. In the middle of the day, our group found a banded Canada Goose. This bird was among a sizable flock of Canada Geese that were sitting, resting, and feeding on a golf course that runs along Old Dam Road. The large yellow neck band had four characters on it. Even with my binoculars, I was able to read them as J184. We continued with our busy day a few minutes later and I forgot about the sighting, but the next morning I remembered this encounter. For many of us who see them in numbers on a frequent basis that may be "just" another Canada Goose, but it is of vital importance to report any marked or banded bird to the bird banding laboratory.

This is a relatively simple process even if you have never done so before. The easiest way to do it is to visit http://reportband.gov/ - now that is a link anyone can remember! From there follow the steps outlined, selecting color marker, federal metal band, or both. You will be able to pick out what you saw from menus they provide (such as a leg band or wing marker, the colors and position of characters, etc.) and enter any numbers and letters on bands and markers. When completed you will very likely hear back relatively quickly, and the USGS will provide you with a PDF certificate of appreciation. The one below is what I received for this Canada Goose.

You can see the band characters listed - J184 - as well as the fact this goose is a male banded way back on June 25, 2003 when it was too young to fly. What was most fascinating to me was how little this soon to be eight year-old bird had moved, as it was born mere minutes away in Southport. That is not to say we have any idea where it has been its entire life, but I found the proximity to where it was banded to be notable. I hope this example shows you that it is worth taking the time and effort to report every marked or banded bird you come across, no matter what the species. Apart from helping scientific research you will get something quite engrossing in return for your efforts.

Friday, January 7, 2011

A cold night, slight haze and no wind created perfect viewing conditions of the Long Island Sound from Stratford Point yesterday. Although we already know that there are a lot of ducks in the area, it was quite amazing to be able see every duck, loon and grebe in at least a half a mile radius. As hunters were putting the thousands of scaup and scoter on the other side of the pensinula in motion, we were treated to quite the spectacle as flocks of these ducks continuously moved in and out of the area. Apart from the sheer number of birds present (many thousands could be seen in a matter of minutes at times) there were also some unusual species to be found. The two female King Eider that have been associated with the scaup/scoter flock for a few weeks now are still present and a Eurasian Wigeon has been seen near shore at Stratford Point for the last few days.

Male Eurasian Wigeon accompanied by two female American Wigeon at Stratford Point

A group of Greater Scaup fly towards the large flock located off Cove Place, on the west side of Stratford Point

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Here's another entry from CAS Director of the Coastal Center at Milford Point, Frank Gallo, concerning a possible hybrid raptor:

Lynn Jones and I found this odd raptor on the Oxford CBC. It nearly made our heads explode trying to work out what it was.

It had a short white and black-banded tail with wider than normal white bands for a Red-shouldered, more like a Broad-winged Hawk, but the the wings didn't fit for Broad-winged. It acted like a Red-shoulder, sitting low in the forest, had a wing pattern mostly like a Red-shouldered, but it had a brown head, pale throat, and upper chests markings more like a Red-tailed.

I sent it off to Brian Wheeler and he forwarded it to Jerry Liguori. Both agreed that it's a possible Red-tailed x Red-shouldered Hybrid. Their response is below. Very cool.

Remarks from Brian Wheeler, author of several notable raptor guides:

"This looks more like a hybrid Red-tailed Hawk and Red-shouldered Hawk. The head is very red-tailed-like, as are the rufous sides of neck. Lack of distinct white barring on secondaries is interesting, too. There are some aberrant adult Red-shouldered Hawks with funky barring on the under parts, but this bird seems to have something other in it. It is not anything like a California type, either (western bird)."

"I sent your images to Jerry Liguori and both of us feel it is a possible hybrid with Red-tailed Hawk by head and ventral markings." ... "It has mix of Red-tailed Hawk characters on the head and some of under parts, and even on the wing."

Jerry Liguori's, also a notable raptor author, comments to Brian:

"At first glance, it looks like another hybrid RS x RT, it has RT traits on the underbody and RS-like upperparts and tail. I'd love to see other photos, but just from these, hybrid looks good."

Thanks to Frank for the amazing find, knowledge, and photos, and of course to Brian and Jerry for their additional expertise.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Every once in a while I come across a little pile of feathers in the woods or some other sign that a raptor succesfully captured its prey. Recently, while surveying in fresh snow, I came across this scene: It was located along the edge of a field near a line of trees; no tracks leading up to it at all. When you click on the image to enlarge it, you can see the few blades of grass near the spot where an unsuspecting rodent left the safety of the snow pack overhead and poked its head out. Three deep imprints indicate the spot where the talons and the tail hit the deck - the left talon impressions is right on top of the rodent's burrow. A perfect imprint of both wings, showing all individual flight feathers completes the snow angel. There is no sign of struggle, just the briefest touchdown and a few drops of blood are all that remain. The unfortunate mouse or vole never saw it coming.A pair of Red-tailed Hawks nests in the nearby tree line and I spotted a Great Horned Owl in the area earlier. The wing imprints look relatively wide with short primaries, so I am blaming the owl for this scene, but I don't know if it is possible to determine who the culprit was based on the forensic evidence. I certainly would appreciate your input.

This truly is one of those pictures that says more than a thousand words....

Monday, January 3, 2011

Best wishes from all of us at Connecticut Audubon Society! May 2011 be full of wonderful surprises!

My new year certainly started off well when this little Eastern Screech Owl emerged from the bird house in the front yard of my in-laws! It's a nice reminder that exciting discoveries can be made in one's own yard. It also shows that with some effort it is possible to create habitat and resources for all kinds of wildlife close to home. For the 112th year running, Connecticut Audubon Society's education, advocacy, science and conservation programs will continue to do just this: improving our state's natural areas by creating and managing wildlife habitat on our own 19 sanctuaries and by educating and supporting others to do the same elsewhere. We hope you will help us along the way!

Saturday, January 1, 2011

The following post and photos are from CAS Director of the Coastal Center at Milford Point, Frank Gallo.

On 21 December 2010, I went to Longshore Country Club in Westport hoping to see and photograph the Cackling Goose I'd missed on my previous trip to the area. When I arrived, a large group of Canada Geese, some 250 or more, were feeding by the pond to the north of the entrance road. In with them was the Barnacle Goose that's been with the flock, and a small Canada-like goose that looked to be a Cackling Goose. At a distance, the Cackling Goose seemed a bit odd; it looked slightly larger than a Richardson's Cackling Goose, Branta hutchinsii hutchinsii, slightly longer necked, with a dark chest, rather than a pale one, and an odd head shape, rounded rather than flat-topped with a steep forehead.

The chinstrap looked different somehow, as well. I was able to get very close to the geese to study it, as they were intent on grazing on the grass. At first, I wondered if it might just be a Lesser Canada Goose, B. canadensis. parvipes, but it didn't look right for that either. The bird seemed to show characteristics of Taverner's Cackling Goose, B. h. taverneri, which breeds in Alaska, and normally winters in Oregon, Washington, and northern California.I studied it some more, took a lot of photographs, and headed home to look at them closely on my computer, and to check some references.

Mark Szantyr discovered a Taverner's Cackling Goose in Connecticut in Dec. 2007, the second documented in the Northeast, (the first was in MA, Oct. 2007) and I was anxious to view and compare my photos to his photos on line. I also sent copies of my images to him, Nick Bonomo, Greg Hanisek and others. Mark forwarded my photos to Steve Mlodinow, a Washington State birder, and authority on white-cheeked geese. While I awaited replies, I checked field guides and other references, and came to the conclusion that the bird was a very likely a Taverner's Cackling Goose based on a combination of characters mentioned earlier.

Nick, Mark, and Greg, all agreed that it was not a typical B. h. hutchinsii, and we awaited word from Steve. Later that evening I received Steve's reply... "Yes sir... they don't come any more classic than that. Nice bulge at base of mandible, head shape great, feather edgings w/in range of taverneri, wrong for minima. Bulky looking. Cheek patch shape normal for Taverner's, not normal for Richardson's."

Fantastic! It's exciting to document another Taverner's Goose in Connecticut.

For more information on how to separate the white-cheeked geese, including Taverner's, see the following links, kindly provided by Nick Bonomo:

Who are we?

Connecticut Audubon Society conserves Connecticut’s environment through science-based education and advocacy focused on the state’s bird populations and habitats. Founded in 1898, Connecticut Audubon Society operates nature facilities in Fairfield, Milford, Glastonbury and Pomfret as well as an EcoTravel office in Essex and an Environmental Advocacy program in Hartford. Connecticut Audubon Society manages 19 wildlife sanctuaries around the state, preserves over 2,600 acres of open space in Connecticut and educates over 200,000 children and adults annually. Working exclusively in the state of Connecticut for over 100 years, Connecticut Audubon Society is an independent organization, not affiliated with any national or governmental group.